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Consulate General of India: Indian Independence Day Celebration
The 68th Independence Day of India will be celebrated on Friday, August 15 at 10 a.m. at the Consulate General of India, 201-325 (3rd floor – Conference Hall) Howe Street, Vancouver. The Consulate General of India, Vancouver, cordially invites all Indian nationals, people of Indian origin and friends of India to participate in the Independence Day celebrations.
Surrey: Movies Under the Stars
Downtown Surrey Business Improvement Association is putting on Movies Under the Stars, turning Holland Park (13428 Old Yale Road), into a free outdoor movie theatre. The event will run on Saturdays: August 9, 16, and 23 with entertainment starting at 5 p.m., and movies starting at dusk. Rio 2 will be screened on August 9.
Richmond Maritime Festival
August 8 to 10. BC’s oldest shipyard, the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site, will be transformed with festive, maritime-themed decor, spontaneous performances and ingenious exhibits. Free family event at the naturally spectacular 3.5-hectare (8.5-acre) site on the Steveston waterfront. This year’s festival will run three full days from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily from Friday, August 8 to Sunday, August 10. Opening night of the festival will feature an outdoor evening concert featuring the roots blues, zydeco, swamp pop and folk sounds of The Swamp Dogs performing from 5 to 7 p.m. Throughout the weekend, festival goers will be entertained by music, roving performers, painters, wood carvers, potters, stilt performers, puppets, storytellers, dancers, drummers and, of course, tempting offerings from a variety of food and drink vendors.
Chariot Festival of India
The 41st annual Chariot Festival of India also known as Jagannath Rath Yatra is taking place in Downtown Vancouver on August 10, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Second Beach, Stanley Park, Vancouver. This colourful and fun-filled cultural parade starts at 11:30 a.m. from Beach Avenue at Howe Street (under the Granville Street Bridge) and travelling along Beach Avenue, culminates at Second Beach at 1 p.m. Features: Entertainment on two stages; music & dance; live theatre; mendi hand tattoos; yoga & meditation; face painting; veggie-cooking demos; clowns & balloon artists; free feasting for 10,000; kids fun tents; market bazaar. All families and friends invited. Free admission. Organizer: ISKCON Vancouver. Information: iskconvan@gmail.com
South Asian Seniors: Acupressure Techniques
Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian adults / senior members as well as non-members to attend a presentation to Learn Acupressure Techniques & Be your Own Doctor by expert acupressurist Avtar Singh Woodwall on Sunday, August 10, 2-3:30 p.m., at Shanti Niketan Hall of Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple, 8321 – 140th Street, Surrey. A copy of the acupressure points in hands and feet will be provided to all for treatment at home. Light snacks & tea will be served after the presentation. Contact Surendra Handa at 604-507-9945 for further information.
MOSAIC: Canadian Citizenship Preparation
Monday & Tuesday, August 11 & 12, 5:30–8:30 p.m. at Tommy Douglas Burnaby Public Library, 7311 Kingsway. Registration required: Call 604-254-9626, ext. 484.
Salmon Habitat Restoration Program
Join the City of Surrey’s Salmon Habitat Restoration Program (SHaRP) for ‘Salmon Tales’ throughout the month of August at your local libraries. Salmon Tales activities include: native wildflower seed planting, educational fun and games, salmon hat colouring and the opportunity to win prizes. For more information on Salmon Tales, visit www.surrey.ca/sharp. August 11-22: * The Salmon King: Monday, August 11, 2-3:30 p.m. Guilford Library * Salmon Facts & Crafts: Tuesday, August 12, 3:30-5 p.m. Cloverdale Library * Hand & Fin: Thursday, August 14, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Semiahmoo Library * Find Sammy: Thursday, August 14, 2:30-4 p.m. Ocean Park Library * Salmon Invaders: Friday, August 15, 2-3:30 p.m. Port Kells Library * Salmon Kingdom: Tuesday, August 19, 2-3:30 p.m. City Centre Library * Salmon Simulator: Wednesday, August 20, 2-3:30 p.m. Fleetwood Library * Hungry Salmon: Friday, August 22, 2-3:30 p.m. Newton Library.
Pakistan-Canada Association
August 14 is the day we celebrate the Independence of our motherland of Pakistan. This year Pakistan-Canada Association has turned its focus to supporting our Palestinian brothers and sisters by organizing a fundraising dinner at Grand Taj Banquet Hall (8388 128th Street, Surrey) on Thursday, August 14, starting at 6:30 p.m. Our traditional Eid Mela and Independence Day event will take place in a more subdued fashion given the hardship so clearly evident in Gaza. Mild entertainment and children’s entertainment will be on hand. Funds raised will be donated to Islamic Relief Canada and Human Concern International. Tickets are $15 per person with children 10 and under free. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Call Raza Mirani at 778-859-9469 or Malik Arfan at 604-543-2680 for tickets or more information.
MOSAIC: Employment Skills Workshops
Thursdays, August 14, 21 & 28: 1:30–3:30 p.m. * August 14: Interview Skills * August 21: Job Search Strategies & Networking * August 28: Understanding Labour Market & Employer Expectations. Venue: Bob Prittie Metrotown Burnaby Public Library, 6100 Willingdon Avenue. Registration required: Call 604-438-8214, ext. 112.
OF BJP: Independence Day
Overseas Friends of Bhartiya Janta Party (OF BJP), a socio-political organization that represents BJP in Canada with the objective of promoting cultural, business and political cooperation between India and Canada, are celebrating the 68th Independence Day of India on August 15, 6-9 p.m. at Bombay Banquet Hall, 7475 135 Street, Surrey. We will be joined by the Global President of OFBJP, Vijay Jolly, from New Delhi and Consul General of India in Vancouver along with many other distinguished business leaders, talented artists and a large number of Indo-Canadians. Many local artists will get the opportunity to showcase their talent in various art forms. We cordially invite everyone to join us in celebrating.
Tribute to Mandela
At Melville Centre for Dialogue, KPU Richmond, 8771 Lansdowne Road on Thursday, August 21, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tickets are $25 for the morning session (9 a.m.-1 p.m.) or $40 for the full day plus lunch. To reserve tickets, contact Dr. Wendy Royal (wendy.royal@kpu.ca) or Dr. Charles Quist-Adade (charles.quist-adade@kpu.ca). Ticket and conference information can be found at kpu.ca/knic.
MAC Summer Family & Youth Camp
Muslim Association of Canada Vancouver Chapter would like to invite you and your whole family to Summer Family & Youth Camp on Friday, August 22 (noon) to Sunday, August 24 (3 p.m.) at Camp Byng, 2139 Lower Road, Roberts Creek (Sunshine Coast), B.C. * Adults: $85. * 6-12 years old: $65. * 0-6 years old: Free. Transportation not included. No babysitting. Registration deadline is August 12 at 5 p.m. For any question or concern, email at macyouthandfamilycamp@gmail.com
India Day
India Day is being celebrated on Sunday, August 24 at 2 p.m. to commemorate Independence Day of India. It is being organized by the Vedic Hindu Cultural Society at 8321-140th Street in Surrey. Dr Subramanian Swamy, former Indian minister, will be bringing greetings and a message from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Workshop for Parenting Skills: English & Punjabi
Richmond Public Library and S.U.C.C.E.S.S. are partnering to offer a free program called “Workshop for Parenting Skills” on Thursday, August 28, 5-6:30 p.m. at Cambie Branch library, located at 11590 Cambie Road. To register, visit any branch of Richmond Public Library, call 604-273-2223 or register online at www.yourlibrary.ca/progs. This program is in English and Punjabi. “Kids don’t come with a manual. There are no perfect parents or perfect children. We can only do our best, and we all need help once in a while,” says Settlement Practitioner Gurpreet Faridkot, who will be presenting the program. “If you feel overwhelmed and isolated by the demands of being a parent of young children’s, you’re not alone. Come and share experiences and ideas about parenting children.” Faridkot will offer tips on such parenting issues as balancing work and family, love and discipline, consequences that work, creating cooperative families, and more.
“Help The Less Fortunate in our Community”
2nd Annual Event. Location: Secret Resto Lounge 12025-72nd Avenue, Surrey, on Friday, August 29. Doors open at 6 p.m., event starts at 7 p.m., ends at 2 a.m. Tickets: Bring in a non-perishable item or personal hygiene item or clothing or used / new toys or $5 to enter. These will be donated to the “Surrey Urban Mission”(shelter home) this is your ticket to enter. Must be 19+ to enter into this event. An evening full of entertainment lined up, guest speakers, fashion show by Gehna Fashions, Ravishing Rents, and many more, dance performances, belly dancer, singers, lots of prizes to be won, and dance the night away with our DJ. If you have any questions or wish to be a sponsor, volunteer or donate items, contact Jashika at 778-899-7535 or elegantstudio@hotmail.ca.
Sai Japa
All devotees are invited at Hindu Cultural Society and Community Centre of B.C.(3885 Albert Street, Burnaby) to participate in Sai Japa / Bhajans on Saturday, August 30 at 5 p.m. Program: 5:15-6:15 Bhajan /Kirtan; 6:30-7:15 p.m. Sai Japa; 7:30 p.m. Priti Bhojan. Contact: Rajubhai Parekh at 604-327-8259; Vijaybhai Dayal at 604-986-5958; Kantibhai Patel at 604-522-7989; or the Temple at 604-299-5922.
Surrey Libraries
Youth English Conversation Circle at Guildford Library. If you are an English language learner or have basic or intermediate English skills, join us at the Guildford Library for these fun, weekly sessions to practice speaking English. Thursdays, August 7 – August 28, 4-5:30 p.m., at Guildford Library, 15105 – 105 Avenue, Surrey. For ages 13-18. Drop in (no need to register). Free. Need more information? Call 604-591-4176. www.surreylibraries.ca
Introduction to Canadian Citizenship
This free program in Punjabi / Hindi caters to permanent residents who are applying for Canadian Citizenship. An introduction will be provided on topics like Canada’ History, Geography, Government and much more. Participants will learn on how to study “Discover Canada”. Every Thursday from August 7-September 11, 1-2:30 p.m. At South Vancouver Neighbourhood House, 6470 Victoria Drive at 49th) in Vancouver. Free Child minding and refreshments will be provided. For more information and registration, call: 604-324-6212, ext. 134.
BC Summer Reading Club
Surrey Libraries invites kids of all ages to join the 2014 BC Summer Reading Club. It’s free. This year’s theme is Funny Business. Every child receives a reading log to keep track of their reading. Kids visit the library regularly to collect special weekly stickers for their reading log, enter contests, and win prizes. Kids that read for 49 days receive an official 2014 medal. Kids can participate in many fun free programs from magic shows, to the one-woman circus act, to a sound-effects performer. As well there are family storytimes, craft programs, book clubs, LEGO clubs, computer and games events, and more. For more information, and to learn about other free library programs, contests and activities for kids, call the Surrey Libraries at 604-598-7445 or visit http://www.surreylibraries.ca/5370.aspx
YVR Take-off Fridays
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) getting ready to host its 5th summer celebration event YVR Take-Off Fridays at Domestic, International & U.S. Terminals, Departures Level 3. Every Friday from now to August 29, YVR will come alive with fun-filled activities, free entertainment, delicious food samples and deals for travellers and locals alike. Running Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the event features live entertainment by local performers and beats courtesy of the Lower Mainland’s hottest DJs. For the little ones, caricaturists and balloonists will be onsite, complemented by face painting and photos ops with the beloved YVR mascots. Lunch and shopping specials also await visitors. Plus, back for a second consecutive year is the popular YVR Take-Off Fridays’ Paper Airplane Competition, scheduled for Friday, July 11 at 11 a.m. Participants of all ages are invited to vie for the chance to scoop up huge prizes, as they square off to create an airplane that will soar past their competitors. Paper airplane expert Ralph Heldt will coach participants on the aerodynamics of paper airplanes and which folding methods will yield the farthest flights. Enjoy a special YVR Take-Off Fridays parking rate of $5 for up to four hours in YVR’s Parkade, or begin your adventure on the Canada Line and get to the airport in 26 minutes or less.
Parkinson SuperWalk
Family, friends and co-workers are teaming up to fight Parkinson’s. Join our community heroes at the 19th annual Parkinson SuperWalk on Sunday, September 7 at 10 a.m. in Vancouver’s Stanley Park (Ceperley Playground). Participants can register by visiting www.parkinson.bc.ca. 110 communities across Canada and 21 communities throughout BC (including Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, Vancouver) will join the fight to find a cure.
